I drifted through the dream-world. Not since being denied sleep has it ever lost its importance to me. My mind missed the bliss of restful unconsciousness. I heard a voice call to me.
"My love."
I turn to Ronderu. My throat catches, attempting to call out her name. Her head shakes sadly.
"Why do you hate me?"
My robotic voice sounds hollow, letting out a boom instead of my plea.
"Why do you not see me for who I am?"
"Who are you?" I ask, "Why do you haunt me again, all these years after leaving the living world?!"
"I did not leave, General," She said, smirking, "I have been in front of your eyes this entire time… helping…"
She fades away, as does the rest of the dream. I open my eyes.
My Ronderu… my love…
But all that is in front of me is the exhausted face of Ahsoka Tano. Seeing me exit the dream-state, she loses focus on the Force, and collapses from relief. In the past, I had the droids drag her back to her cell, and then I took up the duty- for honor's sake. Now…?
I take her to a bed in the corner. It seems silly to have such a thing when I have a robot body, but it is a constant reminder of Kalee. I place Ahsoka firmly in the middle. She's only been in my… our bed, a couple of times.
The weak emotion of empathy overcomes me, and I tuck her under the skins. The sheets go well with her skin tone.
As her eyes unfocused, she asks me a question, "Why… do you hate us so much?"
"Because you took everything from me," I answer. I don't know why I'm answering her. I don't know why I can feel the warmth of her skin through my claws, or feel better now that she's more comfortable. I don't know why I'm beginning to allow old doubts to surface in my mind, nor why fear strikes my heart whenever I think what might happen if Ventress were to find Ahsoka, unarmed, powerless in my room.
I don't know what my ancestors want. I don't know what happened to Ronderu.
I know… I know that something is wrong.
"Because I see you for who you are," I say this in Kalee. And it's true; she is Jedi scum, and they all must die.
"I'm… helping…" She answers, drifting off. It is no wonder. She has had to concentrate all her focus on me, with no time for breaks, or snacks, for hours on end. Ahsoka speaks the truth as well; she is helping. She is helping me deal with grief I have kept close to my heart, and helping Anakin by not being involved in this whole ridiculous war.
We speak the truth, she and I, in the tongue of the people of Kalee.
That truly bothers me about her statement; how does she know how to answer me in my own tongue?